FIR Registered in 48 Hours: How the 22-A/22-B Route Works
When the police refuse to register your FIR, most people give up — or waste weeks going back and forth to the police station. But the law gives you a direct remedy: an application under Sections 22-A and 22-B of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) before the Ex-Officio Justice of Peace. In a textbook example of how this route works, an FIR that the police had refused for days was ordered and registered within 48 hours of approaching the court.
An illustration (hypothetical example)
This is a hypothetical illustration, not a real case. Names and details are fictional and are given only to explain the procedure step by step.
Ahmed, a shopkeeper in Lahore, discovered overnight that two men had broken into his shop and stolen inventory worth several lakhs. The next morning he went to the local police station with a written complaint. The SHO listened, took his papers — and told him to "come back tomorrow." Tomorrow became the day after, and the day after that. No FIR was registered, and Ahmed was never given anything in writing.
On the fourth day, Ahmed consulted an advocate, who filed an application under Section 22-A(6) CrPC before the Sessions Judge of the district, acting as Ex-Officio Justice of Peace. The application narrated the facts, attached proof that the police had been approached (the written complaint with the police station's receiving stamp), and prayed for a direction to register the FIR. The Justice of Peace issued notice to the SHO, who submitted his comments. Finding that a cognizable offence had been disclosed and the police had no lawful reason to refuse, the court directed registration of the FIR under Section 154 CrPC — within two days of the application being filed.
Why the 22-A/22-B route worked here
- The application was filed promptly. Courts look favourably on petitioners who approach without undue delay after the police refusal.
- Proof of the police refusal was attached. The stamped copy of the complaint given to the SHO was the strongest evidence in the application. Without it, the SHO could have claimed no complaint was ever made.
- A cognizable offence was clearly disclosed. Theft is a cognizable offence — the police have no discretion to refuse registration once a cognizable offence is disclosed (Section 154 CrPC is mandatory in such cases).
- The prayer was specific. The application asked for exactly one relief: a direction to register the FIR — not a fishing expedition into other claims.
Documents to attach with a 22-A/22-B application
- Copy of the written complaint given to the SHO (with receiving stamp or diary number)
- CNIC copy of the applicant
- Any supporting evidence: CCTV stills, medical reports, bills, photographs, witness names
- Affidavit of the applicant verifying the facts
Common mistakes to avoid
- Going straight to court without approaching the police first. The Justice of Peace will ask whether you approached the SHO — if you skipped the police station, the application is weak.
- No proof of approach. Always get a receiving stamp or diary number on your written complaint. Verbal visits leave no record.
- Vague facts. Dates, times, places, and the names or descriptions of accused persons matter — the court needs to see that a cognizable offence is disclosed.
- Waiting too long. Delay weakens the application and can give the impression the complaint is an afterthought.
This illustration shows a typical outcome, not a guarantee — every application is decided on its own facts. If you are facing a police refusal, our step-by-step guide on how to file an FIR in Pakistan covers the complete procedure, including what to do when the police do not cooperate.